Madden NFL 15, the 26th edition of the premier EA Sports NFL video game, will appropriately go on sale August 26. Along with it will come the first chance to play the game with the talented, exciting rookies from the 2014 draft.

It’s the tough job of Donny Moore, Madden ratings czar, to rate all of them virtually from scratch before any play a down in the NFL. Moore talked to Sporting News about the process and provided reasoning for the numbers behind this year’s best rookies.

"We start with watching film from the guys when they're playing in college," Moore said. "We look at the measurables, and then the scouting reports start coming in, and then we start creating the guys. We compare them with who's already in the league and being rating them in each category.

"We make sure to hit on their weaknesses as much as their strengths. The big challenge is to make sure everything looks in line with the draft projections. Just because we love a guy like Logan Thomas, he's not going to be like Blake Bortles. We put a lot of weight into why teams draft players in certain positions. We don't put much weight into our more-personal thing. It's about trying to incorporate everyone's opinion and all the data to come up with a very good representation of the player in Madden."

Moore and his crew also tweak a rookie's ratings based on offseason reports. For example, Bortles was ranked ahead of the Jaguars' projected starting quarterback, Chad Henne, because of his great physical skill set over that of the journeyman's. But if there's news about Bortles struggling to make the NFL transition, his ratings in awareness and accuracy would be lowered accordingly.

"We try to stay on top of all the OTA stuff and make adjustments not just for rookies, but for the entire league," Moore said.

The top 10 rookies (make that 13) for Madden 15

"Both of those guys share in common that they're physical freaks," Moore said. "With Clowney, it's what he did at the Combine and what he brings to the table as a pass-rush terror. He has 95 hit power, which is tied for No. 1 among rookies. A lot of it is what we saw on film, and that hit against Michigan in the Outback Bowl two years ago speaks for itself. At the same time, we've given him a 72 stamina rating, probably not a three-down player. Robinson is the top run-blocking rookie, and third overall among left guards. He's got a 78 pass block rating, which shows he has room for improvement there."

Jadeveon Clowney (EA Sports)

3. Khalil Mack, OLB, Raiders; Jake Matthews, T, Falcons, 81 rating

Khalil Mack (EA Sports)

5. Sammy Watkins, WR, Bills, 80 rating

"That puts him two points below Mike Williams, a receiver on his own team," Moore said. "Stats-wise, that puts him at about a 60-reception, 900-yard, seven-touchdown guy. Watkins has 93 speed, 95 acceleration, 95 agility. For his awareness, he might have a few drops, a few incorrect routes here and there, but for his physical stuff, he's great. A guy like him, you build around in franchise mode."

"Pryor is tied with Clowney with 95 hit power. He's a force against the run," Moore said. "Clinton-Dix, is more of an all-around guy. He has 85 zone coverage, 75 catch and 85 speed. He can kind of do everything. We don't really think about rating Pryor ahead of Clinton-Dix just because he was drafted a few spots ahead."

"Evans has a couple things that puts him down there," Moore said." He's not a speed burner, but at 6-5, 230 pounds, how could he be? He's still got 89 speed and 89 catch, the top rating there for a rookie. On the surface, it looks like he doesn't look good in the 70s, but that size and how he can go up and catch the ball is going to nice in Madden."

Which first-round pick were you surprised that didn’t make the top 10?

"I spent time trying to get cornerback Justin Gilbert (Browns, No. 8 overall) into more of a top-10 pick, because he's got great measurables, but he wasn't really good in terms of tackling or giving much against the run," Moore said. "So I had to find some extra reasons to get him up a little bit."

Speaking of the Browns, where do you have Johnny Manziel rated?

"He didn't make the top 10, and we'll reveal his number with the rest of the Browns ratings will be released on August 1. But in general, he's got a good arm for a little guy," Moore said. "it really came across how he well he could throw the ball. He's obviously got great mobility in the pocket, although he's not as fast as RG3 (low-to-mid 80s speed). It still will be a lot of fun to play with him as a Browns fan as a guy to build around."